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Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
10/18
10/18:
It would've been nice if Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story was a true biopic instead of the myth that's blown out of
proportion.
Additionally, it's unfortunate that there are many inaccuracies. For starters, Linda Lee isn't that good-looking but is
rather plain. Raymond Chow is the man who discovered Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee's back injury as it happened in the film is fake;
he aggravated it by lifting weights.
Anyway, there's no doubt that Bruce Lee is the most famous Asian actor in Hollywood history. Kung Fu or not, he was the first
to break through the wall, paving the way for other Asian thespians to gain some headway into motion pictures. He
was also the first to make martial arts popular.
Meanwhile, it's interesting to see Nancy Kwan, a forgotten Hong Kongese actress, in the film because she was among the
first Asians in Hollywood by appearing in The World of Suzie Wong thirteen years before Enter the Dragon
hit the theatres. She also knew the real Bruce Lee, having been trained by him for the 1969 picture
The Wrecking Crew.
A constant theme of Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is racism against Asians. The most powerful moment is Bruce Lee's
reaction to Mickey Rooney acting like a bucktoothed, myopic Japanese caricature in
Breakfast at Tiffany's. That
film will never escape the disreputation of perpetuating the Asian stereotype.
Jason Scott Lee (no relation) isn't bad as Bruce Lee, and he has a good, magnetic personality. Prior to the filming,
Jason had no martial arts training which is impressive. Unfortunately, he exaggerates Bruce Lee's mannerisms during the
making of Enter the Dragon, and Bruce wasn't big on fancy moves, either.
By the way, Brandon Lee was offered the leading role but turned it down. When asked why, he explained: "I was
a little scared by the whole thing, really. It's strange to play your own father, you know? I couldn't really wrap my mind
around it." Fair enough.
All in all, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is more fake than real.